Nicolas Roche on his way to victory on Thursday's national time-trial championships in Kilcullen. The Team Sky man said he wasn’t confident of winning but knew he could - and the course was perfect for him. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Nicolas Roche has expressed his satisfaction at his time-trial victory in the national championships on Thursday evening but said he wasn’t so confident of winning beforehand.
The Team Sky man had over a minute to spare on runner-up Eddie Dunbar (Axeon Hagens Berman) with defending champion Ryan Mullen (Cannondale) a further 22 seconds behind in third.
Roche will now target double gold in tomorrow’s road race but knows he has to play things to absolute perfection if he is to be crowned the winner for the first (and only) time since 2009.
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“I wasn’t confident of winning the time-trial but I knew I could so I’m happy to have done it," he told stickybottle.
“The course was perfect for me but the level in Ireland is more and more competitive over the last number of years.
“I knew I had a good chance because I’m in good shape but anything can happen on the day.”
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He had yet to look at the course for tomorrow’s showdown when he spoke to stickybottle but was aiming do so this morning.
“A hard race will be better for me but this race is very open," he said of the contest that awaits tomorrow, Sunday.
“It will be about finding the balance between riding aggressively and keeping something left in the tank for the finish.
“I made mistakes in the past of waiting too much but also of riding too aggressively.
“Like I said, the level this weekend is very competitive and it will be a tough race.”
After tomorrow’s contest the 31 year-old will head to the Tour of Poland instead of the big one in France.
“It’s obvious I was disappointed at not making the Tour team because I’ve been there every year since 2009.
“But now it’s also a chance to play my cards on other races like the Tour of Poland and San Sebastian, but more importantly, get ready for Olympics.
“I obviously would like to ride the Vuelta also, so there’s lots of racing ahead. For now, all I can think of is this weekend.”
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